Vasculature closure devices and automatic deployment systems

Abstract

Vasculature closure device delivery systems and methods are provided. In one or more embodiments, a vasculature closure device delivery system for intraluminally positioning a vasculature closure device against a puncture site existing in a wall of a vessel includes a loading tube configured to receive the vasculature closure device therein, a push rod configured to extend through the loading tube and to push the vasculature closure device out of the loading tube and into a lumen of the vessel, and an automatic deployment mechanism configured to detect when the vasculature closure device is positioned at the puncture site and to automatically deploy the vasculature closure device thereabout.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A vasculature closure device delivery system for intraluminally positioning an expandable vasculature closure device against a puncture site existing in a wall of a vessel, the vasculature closure device delivery system comprising:
 a loading tube configured to receive the vasculature closure device therein;   a push rod configured to extend through the loading tube, wherein the loading tube and the push rod are configured to move with respect to one another to expose the vasculature closure device within a lumen of the vessel; and   an automatic deployment mechanism configured to detect when the vasculature closure device is positioned within the lumen at the puncture site and to automatically allow the vasculature closure device to expand within the lumen about the puncture site.   
     
     
         24 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 23 , wherein the automatic deployment mechanism comprises a handle configured to receive at least a portion of the push rod therein, and wherein the handle and the push rod are configured to move axially with respect to one another from a pre-deployment configuration to a deployment configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 24 , wherein the automatic deployment mechanism further comprises a spring mechanism configured to resist axial movement of the handle and the push rod from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 25 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises a first end connected to the push rod and a second end connected to the handle. 
     
     
         27 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 25 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises one of an extension spring, a compression spring, a constant force coil spring, and a friction element. 
     
     
         28 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 25 , wherein the automatic deployment mechanism further comprises a lock mechanism configured to selectively lock the handle and the push rod in the pre-deployment configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 an implant holder configured to hold the vasculature closure device for delivery into the vessel;   a restraining thread configured to maintain the vasculature closure device in a collapsed configuration during delivery into the vessel; and   a release wire configured to release the vasculature closure device from the implant holder and the restraining thread, such that the vasculature closure device is allowed to expand from the collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration within the lumen about the puncture site.   
     
     
         30 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 29 , wherein a first end of the release wire is connected to the handle, wherein a second end portion of the release wire engages the implant holder and the restraining thread, and wherein the release wire is configured to release the vasculature closure device from the implant holder and the restraining thread upon movement of the handle and the push rod from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 29 , wherein the release wire is configured to release the vasculature closure device from the implant holder and the restraining thread when a resistance force provided by the vasculature closure device positioned within the lumen at the puncture site is greater than a spring force provided by the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         32 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 29 , further comprising a resistance element configured to resist removal of the vasculature closure device from the lumen prior to expansion of the vasculature closure device, wherein the release wire is configured to release the vasculature closure device from the implant holder and the restraining thread when a sum of a resistance force provided by the resistance element and a resistance force provided by the vasculature closure device positioned within the lumen at the puncture site is greater than a spring force provided by the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         33 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 32 , further comprising a resistance element restraining thread configured to maintain the resistance element in a constrained configuration prior to release of the vasculature closure device and to allow the resistance element to move to an unconstrained configuration upon release of the vasculature closure device, wherein the resistance element is configured to provide a first resistance force when in the constrained configuration and a second resistance force when in the unconstrained configuration, and wherein the first resistance force is greater than the second resistance force. 
     
     
         34 . The vasculature closure device delivery system of  claim 24 , further comprising a release wire connected to the handle and configured to release the vasculature closure device from the vasculature closure device delivery system upon movement of the handle and the push rod from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration, such that the vasculature closure device is allowed to expand from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration within the lumen about the puncture site. 
     
     
         35 . A method for closing a puncture site existing in a wall of a vessel, the method comprising:
 positioning an expandable vasculature closure device within a loading tube of a delivery system, wherein the vasculature closure device comprises an expandable support frame and a sealing membrane at least partially supported by the support frame;   moving the loading tube and a push rod of the delivery system with respect to one another to expose the vasculature closure device within a lumen of the vessel;   detecting that the vasculature closure device is positioned within the lumen at the puncture site, via an automatic deployment mechanism of the delivery device; and   automatically allowing the vasculature closure device to expand within the lumen about the puncture site, via the automatic deployment mechanism.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the automatic deployment mechanism comprises a handle configured to receive at least a portion of the push rod therein, and wherein automatically allowing the vasculature closure device to expand within the lumen about the puncture site comprises moving the handle and the push rod axially with respect to one another from a pre-deployment configuration to a deployment configuration. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the automatic deployment mechanism further comprises a spring mechanism, and wherein moving the handle and the push rod axially with respect to one another from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration comprises loading the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises one of an extension spring, a compression spring, a constant force coil spring, and a friction element. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the delivery system further comprises a release wire connected to the handle, and wherein automatically allowing the vasculature closure device to expand within the lumen about the puncture site further comprises releasing the vasculature closure device from the delivery system via the release wire, such that the vasculature closure device is allowed to expand from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration within the lumen about the puncture site. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the release wire releases the vasculature closure device from the delivery system when a resistance force provided by the vasculature closure device positioned within the lumen at the puncture site is greater than a spring force provided by the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         41 . A vasculature closure system for closing a puncture site existing in a wall of a vessel, the vasculature closure system comprising:
 an expandable vasculature closure device comprising:
 an expandable support frame deployable within a lumen of the vessel; and 
 a sealing membrane at least partially supported by the support frame; 
 wherein the vasculature closure device is configured to expand from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration within the lumen of the vessel; and 
   a vasculature closure device delivery system comprising:
 a loading tube configured to receive the vasculature closure device therein; 
 a push rod configured to extend through the loading tube, wherein the loading tube and the push rod are configured to move with respect to one another to expose the vasculature closure device within the lumen of the vessel; and 
 an automatic deployment mechanism configured to detect when the vasculature closure device is positioned within the lumen at the puncture site and to automatically allow the vasculature closure device to expand from the collapsed configuration into the expanded configuration within the lumen about the puncture site. 
   
     
     
         42 . A vasculature closure device delivery system for intraluminally positioning an expandable vasculature closure device against a puncture site existing in a wall of a vessel, the vasculature closure device delivery system comprising:
 a loading tube configured to receive the vasculature closure device therein;   a push rod configured to extend through the loading tube, wherein the loading tube and the push rod are configured to move with respect to one another to expose the vasculature closure device within a lumen of the vessel;   a handle configured to receive at least a portion of the push rod therein, wherein the handle and the push rod are configured to move axially with respect to one another from a pre-deployment configuration to a deployment configuration;   a spring mechanism configured to resist axial movement of the handle and the push rod from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration; and   a release wire connected to the handle and configured to release the vasculature closure device from the vasculature closure device delivery system upon movement of the handle and the push rod from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration.